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Effectiveness of Electronic Aids for Smoking Cessation

  • Smoking and Lifestyle (R Huxley, Section Editor)
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Current Cardiovascular Risk Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of preventable death in the world, and though current evidence-based approaches have substantially reduced rates of smoking, these rates remain disturbingly high. Two recent technological advancements, the electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) and mobile health (mHealth) interventions, may offer smokers an alternative way to quit smoking. E-cigarettes continue to be fiercely debated. Preliminary evidence suggests that e-cigarettes are likely much safer than regular cigarettes and are helpful to some smokers as a means of reducing or quitting smoking. Questions, however, still remain as to how they will affect overall public health—if they will be used as a “gateway” product or reduce motivation to quit smoking, to name but a few. Similarly, mHealth interventions appear to be effective and accepted by users. However, mobile ‘apps’ have yet to be tested in randomized trials and there are concerns about violations of users privacy and state jurisdictions.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Erik Augustson, PhD for his assistance and expertise regarding the mHealth portion of this paper.

Compliance with Ethics Guidelines

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Conflict of Interest

Ellen Meier declares that she has no conflicts of interest. Alayna P. Tackett declares that she has no conflicts of interest. Theodore L. Wagener declares that he has no conflicts of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA

    Ellen Meier & Alayna P. Tackett

  2. Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center (OTRC), Oklahoma City, OK, USA

    Ellen Meier, Alayna P. Tackett & Theodore L. Wagener

  3. University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC), 1200 Children’s Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA

    Theodore L. Wagener

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  1. Ellen Meier
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  2. Alayna P. Tackett
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  3. Theodore L. Wagener
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Correspondence to Theodore L. Wagener.

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Meier, E., Tackett, A.P. & Wagener, T.L. Effectiveness of Electronic Aids for Smoking Cessation. Curr Cardiovasc Risk Rep 7, 464–472 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12170-013-0343-8

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